University Daily Kansan Monday, February 21, 1955
Haul Out the Briars-the Weather's Just Right
Smoking will be better now.
And the cooler days will have a lot to do with the improvement. This is the time of year when the smoker finds rediscovered delights in a long drag from the smoke of his choice—whether it be the comfortable briar or an efficient ready-made cigaret.
For the really best smoking, no season is better than this—especially with the rain. Most smokers can remember back to this summer when their cigarettes dried out before they could smoke them, and unless they had a super-duper $1.50 tobacco pouch, pipe smoking was no better.
The drier the tobacco, the hotter the flame.
The hotter the flame, the less pleasure in smoking.
We repeat—cool, moist weather is the best time of year for smoking.
Over-all climate has an effect on smoking pleasure, too, says Esquire magazine in a recent article. The magazine tells the history of tobacco habits, mentioning that it was no accident when snuff-taking came out of South America, not North America, and pipe-smoking first developed in England.
Apparently, snuff is still popular south of the border—in Spain too—and the pine hits its top in popularity on the cooler sea coasts.
Kansas and a few surrounding states present a unique problem
to the smoker. We've got no climate, unless you want to call the adjective "salubrious" a definition.
Some might suggest the way to beat the unique Kansas difficulty is to do your smoking only in the winter—preferably when it's snowing.
Anyone who would suggest the above is obviously a non-smoker.
About the only way the smoker can get the maximum enjoyment from his form of tobacco is to look at it from the angle of total enjoyment for the whole year. The trick, after taking this perspective, lies in appreciation.
In other words, the smoker can enjoy himself so much now provided he has true esthetic appreciation—that the dry summer tobacco can count only as satisfaction of a habit, and he'll still be happy with smoking.
Try this:
Take a short walk on one of these misty nights. As you walk try to compare the night with the 100-degree nights of last summer, and walk slowly so you won't be winded for the last phases of the experiment.
The second phase consists of lighting up.
The final phase is the long drag. Take it, and you'll find that smoking—even in Kansas—can be fun.
—Ron Grandon
No Gripe Here
Now See; Things Ain't So Bad After All, Are They?
The original intention was to gripe.
Namely about how much students spend on books each semester; how little return the student gets on his original investment when he sells the book back to the Student Union book store; and after all isn't the Union book store run for the benefit of the student?
Then it was decided to talk to Ray Verrey, manager of the book store. The information received from this very cooperative and congenial gentleman altered opinions.
The book store buys a used book for half its original purchase price and then sells the book again at two-thirds its original price. Mr. Verrey explained that in order to make a profit on a used book $1
Mr. Verrev has all the headaches of the private businessman and the store must operate at a profit or go out of business.
student book store set-ups in the nation.
Mr. Verley pointed out several factors that not only cost money, but account for the fact that KU is repuded to have one of the finest
must be made on its resale. With new books in case of an oversupply they can usually be returned to the publisher, but used books wind up on the sale table at giveaway prices and the store stands a chance of a big loss.
Why all this concern with making a profit? Because the book store is entirely self-supporting and unlike stores at some state schools there's no subsidization whatsoever from the state.
Take a look at the physical plant.
If the book store were housed in a separate building it would be one of the best looking stores in the vicinity from the standpoint of modern design and interior decoration. That takes money and there is the factor of depreciation of equipment to be considered, too.
Though it may seem to be a small item the store cashes checks for the student free of charge, and Mr. Verrey said a considerable profit can be realized by charging for this service.
It seems to us that things are in sad shape when one group must accept alms to insure aid to others.
Then, too, there is the fact that the student may receive a 10 per cent rebate on any article purchased at the store, and, according to Mr. Verrey, 90 per cent of the students claim these rebates.
We might be shown the logic in requiring an "all or nothing at all" attitude from state divisions to receive aid, but the reasoning surely is not economic. We fail to see any thrift in forced giving. It is unreasonable to assume that because one county needs help, that all counties need it. If federal aid at the state level is disseminated so arbitrarily, it might be profitable for us to take a closer look at foreign aid.
Margot Baker
During these times, when nearly everyone seems to be clamoring for aid—any handout aid—it is refreshing to hear of at least one group that is willing to take care of its own.
It seems unlikely that nations receiving U.S. aid would refuse it, but we wonder what attitude Washington would take if it were to happen.
Although our government may have logical reasons for its handicapped-aid policies, it might profit from a reappraisal.
Harrison county's refusal of the money had made the loss of $3 million in U.S. grants to Ohio a definite possibility. Of the 88 counties in the state, Harrison county had been the only hold-back.
"You must give Al credit. Not one cigarette in three days."
Then there is the fact that the KU system encourages students to buy books, thereby providing them with the foundations for a library. According to figures it seems that most KU students prefer to keep their texts. Mr. Verrey feels this is one of the most important aspects of this book store system.
Harrison county, located in the coal mining section of the state, had fought for the past four years to stav free of federal aid. County officials demanded the privilege of taking care of their own totally and permanently disabled persons. County commissioners said they neither needed nor wanted federal aid. They maintained their handicapped were cared for under their own relief program.
We wonder if the idea has ever occurred to ask if money is wanted before forcing it into the hands of the "needy."
Well you changed my mind sir,
and after thinking it over I've decided I appreciate you too.
Daily Hansan
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251 Ad Room, KU 376 Member of the Inland Daily Press association, Associated Collegiate Press association. Represented by the National Advertising Association. Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in Lawrence). Published at Lawrence Canyon, every afternoon at the University of Kansas and several university holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class matter. Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan.
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Why Give 'Phog'a Cadillac?
Now really, this is carrying things a little too far. Is it not enough that we name a fieldhouse in Coach Forrest C. "Phog" Allen's honor, that the Kansas legislature wants to extend the legal retirement age for professors just so he can stay around a while longer? Now someone wants to present "Phog" a brand new Cadillac on the occasion of the dedication of the fieldhouse.
What is all this fuss about a guy who coaches a basketball team?
What is this University anyway? A place of learning or a glorified coliseum? Forrest Allen is, and always has been, a credit to this school, as are the basketball teams he has coached, but in the final analysis basketball, or any other form of athletics, is a purely extracurricular activity.
Athletics in any form is not essential to either purpose.
Margot Baker
LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibler
"Are you reading ahead in the assignment again?"